JobsAdvocate Health

STERILE PROCESSING LEAD

Advocate Health · Park Ridge, IL

Posted Sep 8, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Walk me through a night shift where the SPD supervisor wasn't there and something went wrong. What did you do?

whether the candidate can actually run the department independently during off-hours, not just follow orders

Tell me about a time you had to correct a technician who was cutting corners on procedure. How did you handle it?

willingness to enforce standards with peers without turning it into a personality conflict

Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with someone in the OR about instrument availability or timing. How did that get resolved?

ability to be a calm, professional liaison between SPD and clinical staff under pressure

Tell me about a quality improvement idea you brought forward in a previous SPD role, even a small one. What happened with it?

whether they actually engage with process improvement or just execute tasks

Technical

Tell me how you check an instrument set for completeness and function before it goes out. What are you actually looking for tray by tray?

hands-on competence with instrument assembly standards, not just familiarity with the job title

Describe your process for decontaminating a soiled specialty set so you don't cross-contaminate other instruments or yourself.

real knowledge of decontamination protocol, PPE use, and infection control discipline

What do you do when a piece of sterilization equipment starts acting up in the middle of a run?

knowledge of equipment troubleshooting steps and when to escalate to biomed versus handle it themselves

What's your understanding of ETO exposure risks and the precautions required when working around it?

basic safety literacy required for a role with direct chemical and biological exposure

Situational

Say you find a non-conforming tray that's already been through sterilization and it's due in the OR in 20 minutes. What do you do?

how the person prioritizes patient safety against time pressure and whether they know the correction process

How would you build a shift assignment when you're short two people and the surgery schedule is heavy that day?

practical staffing judgment and understanding of workflow priorities under real constraints

How do you track loaner and consignment instruments, and what happens when a vendor doesn't deliver on time?

grasp of inventory accountability and comfort holding outside vendors to agreed timelines

How would you train a brand new tech on assembling a specialty set for the first time?

mentoring ability and whether they can break down technical judgment into teachable steps

You get an emergency call-in during off hours for a trauma case needing instruments fast. Walk me through what you do first.

readiness to respond under real time pressure and knowledge of what actually needs to happen first

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Advocate Health from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 37719 Advocate Lutheran General Hospital - Sterile Processing Services Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: 11PM-7:30AM. ROTATIONAL WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS IF NEEDED. Pay Range: $22.90 - $34.35 Major Responsibilities: Assembles general and specialty instruments and sets 1)Examines surgical instrumentation for cleanliness, proper assembly and proper performance. 2)Assembles instrument set, ensuring that the correct number and type of instruments are present following established lists and placing the instruments to appropriately to ensure sterilization and ease of use by the user. 3)Check instrument performance and identify repair needs. 4)Acts as resource on instrument identification, appropriate use, location, and availability. Leadership Behaviors 1)Assists with adjustment in daily work assignments to compensate for fluctuation to work flow in absence of SPD supervisor. 2)Observes employee activities throughout the shift to ensure that established procedures are being followed for quality control. 3)Monitors the activities of employees and other personnel in SPD, on weekends and holidays having responsibility for an effective and efficient operation. 4)Notifies SPD Manager of any problems that occur during the shift. 5)Communicates ideas for revision of policy and/or procedure. 6)Assists in ensuring that equipment is properly functioning by communicating equipment malfunctions to manager and/or Engineering/Biomed and filling out appropriate work orders. 7)Acts as liaison between SPD and other departments to interpret problems that occur and communicate back to them in a courteous and professional manner. 8)Assists in maintaining SPD inventory by periodically ordering and receiving supplies and maintaining the appropriate paperwork. 9)Demonstrates positive role model and works independently to assure surgical patients needs are met. Decontamination of General and Specialty instruments and sets 1)Demonstrates independent function in ensuring that soiled instrumentation of any surgical specialty is decontaminated in a manner that prevents cross-contamination. 2)Wears proper protective attire when performing decontamination. 3)Follows established procedures to ensure decontamination completion and correct. 4)Sets up decontamination equipment for operation and ensures proper function and continuous work flow throughout the shift. 5)Maintains a neat and clean work area at all times. 6)Reports improper equipment operation to person in charge. 7)Handles infectious waste according to established hospital procedure. Implementation of Quality Improvement Ideas to Enhance Operation and Team Function 1)Identifies, discusses with manager the problem/improvement opportunities that will be focused on for the year. 2)Presents problem/improvement opportunities with an action plan. 3)Assists SPD supervisor in revision of policy and/or procedures. 4)Monitors quality assurance indicators and reports findings to the Manager and Supervisor. 5)Assists in precepting, mentoring and/or training of new technicians. Oversees Inventory of supplies and instruments. 1)Manages flow of loaners and consignment. 2)Manages non-conforming trays and ensures return to service in a timely fashion. 3)Oversees all instruments, maintains par levels, order as necessary. 4)Coordinates service and repair communications with vendors. 5)Maintains adequate par levels of all case cart supplies; assures that appropriate inventories are maintained for the operating room. Support and supervision of staff to assure efficient utilization of staff activities. 1)Monitor all sterilizing, decontamination, cleaning, processing, storage and delivery of supplies activities. 2)Prepare work schedule to assure appropriate staff coverage 3)Coordinate daily assignments, make adjustments to accommodate work flow. 4)Prepares shift report to facilitate communication of work assignments using the Daily Management Board. 5)Checks the surgery schedule; communicates instrumentation priorities to the shift. 6)Tracks and analyzes associate productivity, sets productivity standards and provides feedback to associates and Manager/Supervisor on a regular basis. 7)Ensures daily processes for scanning, loaner, consignment and holds sales representative accountable to agreed upon delivery timeframes and reports issues to Manager and/or Supervisor. Education/Experience Required: -High school diploma. -2-3 years SPD experience Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: -Ability to communicate and follow directions. -Computer skills. -Experienced in operating sterilization and monitoring equipment. -Certified Sterile Processing Tech Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: -ETO exposure. -Exposure to blood/body fluids. -Heavy lifting 30-40lbs. -Hepatitis vaccination at hire. -TB testing yearly. -Ability to respond quickly to emergent situations. -Strength/dexterity to handle surgical instruments/equipment -Ability to access all areas of the department -Ability to physical respond to fire, trauma disaster and ETO codes. -Ability to be on call for emergency situations. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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